The Washington critic., 1887-03-31
WASHINGTON, MARCH 81, 1887
RErORM-A sUG-
GEsrIos TO THE SENATE
COMMITTEE,

The Senate Select Committee, which
Is now investigating The workings Of
the several departments Of the Govern
ment, will doubtless make an elaborate
and thorough report Of its labors. 1t
can hardly fail TO he of value and will
certainly be OF interest, abounding In
information which, TO the general pub.
llc is now in the nature Of sealed
book, and mailing recommendation
that will bc ot lrrlt service tow Irds
perfecting the Rm-cnent of the pub
lie business
We do not understand that the com
mitteo is specially instructed or en-.
powered to Inquire iutb the healministra'
iion OF the civil .triar ltw or It's prac.
tical results, Lut an Investigation of
the comprehensive scrpe proposed
would naturally compel more or less
attention 10 this suIi'at. 1t will, OF
course, be necessary to account for any
ineillceucy that may be found to cN.
ist, any lack OF proper facilities Cor the
transaction OF business, amy iuadcquacy
of methods or want OF system or disci
plinc, and such an examination would
most likely involve an inquiry into the
efficiency of the new system Of appoint.
mepts as affecting the character of the
civil service. So that, incidentally, at
least. the operations Of the law will
come under the puryiew of tho com.
mittee.
1t Is matter of no small Importance.
We are told that the law, in its class
ified application, is working wonders
of reform, but the people have only
hearsay evidence to that effect. We
are assured that II is doing away with
u great deal of lavoritlsm, relieving
the appointing power of much en-.
barrassment purifying the channels of
patronage and elevating the standard
Of clerical merit. 1t would certainly
not be above or beyond the province
of Mr.. Cockrell's committee, while 1t
has so excellent an opportunity, to
find out all about this. The public
are interested in knowing, and have a
clear right TO know, whether civil
service reform is really all that is
claimed for 1t by It's friends, or whether
1t Is not sham and humbug, as in
sisted by It's opponents.
The committee is not expected, nor
should 1t be asked, perhaps, TO pass
judgment on the law, but merely to
make statement Of facts, on which
the pt tople can cast up their own foot
ings as to its net value to the Govern
ment. The questions, therefore, tc
which the committee can very properly
direct its attention ARE these:
In what proportion, II any, has the
quality of the civil service, to which
the rules of classification aud compeli
tion apply been improved under exist
ing law as compared with former
usagcy
Is the Government any better
servod-ih public business more rap
idly expedited, the morals or thC
methods Of the several departments il
any respect the gainer-now that wha
is called the spoils system has beer
done away with?
Has anything been achieved except
ing to relieve the departments from the
pressure of applications for office, by
making positions eligible only to candi
dates who have passed certain competi
tive examinations
An ascertainment of these points il
much to be desired. If the law 4
shown to be efilcacious and in the lint
of wholesome progress, the sooner vii
cease all agitation for its repeal ani
discomfort with its enforcement. If |
be otherwise. the argument for it
amendment or repeal will no longe
be charged to the account of offensive
partisanship. The Senate Committe,
can do the country great service IL
this matter II 1t will.
-. ~